Brother Ronald Conklin LC is ordained in Atlanta to the diaconate in the Legion of Christ

Archbishop Wilton Gregory Wilson ordains Brother Ronald Conklin

Cumming, Georgia -- “It’s been a blessing beyond belief.”

These are the
words of Kathleen Conklin, whose son, Brother Ronald Conklin LC,
was ordained to the deaconate on the feast day of
St. John the Baptist, Sunday, June 24, 2012.

“I want to encourage all
mothers out there, never be afraid of a vocation in
your family but pray for one. It’s a beautiful thing,”
she said.

Brother
Ronald’s father Don said they are now looking forward to
his priestly ordination in December, 2012.

The most reverend Archbishop of Atlanta, Msgr.
Wilton Gregory Wilson, ordained Brother Ronald in the chapel of
Pinecrest Academy, Cumming, Georgia, at a ceremony at 2:00 pm.

As Brother Ronald
was ordained, the Archbishop presented him with a Bible and
said:

“Receive the gospel of Christ, whose herald you
have become.Believe what you read, teach what

Brother Ronald Conklin with his parents and Archbishop

you believe and practice what you teach.”

His ordination precedes the Rome event
on June 30, 2012, when 30 men will be ordained
to the diaconate in the Legion of Christ.The ordinations follow an average of 12 years of study
and preparation.

Originally
from Temperance, in southeast Michigan, Brother Ronald joined the Legion
in the year 2000 and is the oldest of seven
children.

At the
age of 12, he was invited to visit the seminary
of the Legionaries of Christ in Cheshire, Connecticut, which made
a lasting impression.After high school, Brother Ronald
entered the Regnum Christi Mission Corps program, serving a year
in Mexico.

“After
that year I wanted to make sure God was not
calling me to the priesthood, so I went to the
candidacy in Cheshire,” he said. “I decided not to leave
until I was sure that God did not want me
to be a priest.About one year later,
after my first year of novitiate in Ireland, I decided
that God was calling me to give my life to
Him in the Legion.”

Brother Ronald studied classical humanities for two years in
Salamanca, Spain, where he served for a three-year apostolic internship
as an assistant to the instructor of novices.He continued studying philosophy in Thornwood, New York, where he
also served as an assistant to the rector.In Rome, he continued theology studies for a year and
then returned to Thornwood to serve as vice-rector.Most recently, he served as dean of students at Immaculate
Conception Apostolic School in New Hampshire.

Brother Ronald said prior to his ordination
that he “is nervous but confident.”

“Ordination is a massive responsibility and commitment,
and that makes one shiver. But when you know that
God is asking it of you, there is nothing to
fear.”

Please join
us in prayer for the newly ordained Brother Ronald and
all those who will be ordained on June 30, and
that the Lord will continue to “send out laborers into
His harvest.”